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(Model.)

G. M. BEARD.

Windmill.

No. 242,251. Patented May 31,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. BEARD, OF ANGOLA, INDIANA.

WINDMILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,251, dated May 31, 1881.

Application filed March 28, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. BEARD, of Angola, in the county of Steuben and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Windmills; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in vertical wind-wheels; and itconsists in supporting the turn-table upon a roller which moves upon an inclined plane, adjustable at one end, whereby as the wheel is moved around out of the wind the roller runs up the inclined plane and raises the wheel and table upward, and as soon as the force of the wind abates the wheel swings around into position again from its own gravity.

The object of my invention is to do away with the usual connections between the turntable and the pivoted vane, and to dispense with the weight which draws the vane around into position after it has once been moved, and to substitute therefor a turn-table which will rise upward when the 'wheel is blown around by the force of the wind and then returned to position again by its own weight alone.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention, and Fig. 3 a similar View of a modification. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

A represents a standard or mast, upon which the turn-table B is pivoted, in the usual manner. Upon the top of this turn-table may be mounted a wind-wheel of any desired shape or construction. Also passed over the top of the standard A, and serving to support the turntable in position, is the casting D, to which the vane is secured. This casting has the two stops, E 1 secured to it, and which extend outward at right angles to each other for the purpose of regulating the distance the turntable shall move in swinging into and turning out of the wind.

Secured to the lower end of the casting D is the inclined plane I, which has its lower end fastened loosely to the casting, and which has its upper end held between the two nuts 0 (ModeL) upon the vertical screw-rod L. This rod is held vertically in position between the two ears P, which project out beyond the side of the casting, and has the upper end of the inclined plane passed over it, and then the nuts are placed upon the end of the rod above and below the end of the incline, as shown, sothat by adjusting the nuts upon the rod the incline can be raised or lowered, as may be desired.

Secured to the lower end of the turn-table is the friction-roller It, which bears upon the top of the inclined plane, as shown; When the force of the wind becomes too great and blows the wheel more or less around out of the face of the wind this friction-rollcris forced up the inclined plane, and then, as soon as the wind abates, the weight of the wheel and the turntable causes the roller to run down the incline, and thus allows the wheel to swing into the wind again. By adjusting the rear end of this inclined plane higher or lower it will readily be seen that the wheel can be regulated so as to swing around out of the wind when but a comparatively light pressure is brought to bear upon it, or so as to swing around'only when the wind is blowinga gale.

Fastened to a projection, V, which extends out from one side of the lower end of the turntable is a connecting-rod, X, which rod hasits other end fastened to the lower end of the lever Y, by means of which the wheel can be drawn around out of the wind whenever it is desired to stop the mill.

If so desired, the casting which supports the vane may be secured rigidly to the standard A, and the standard may be made to revolve, or the oastin g may be pivoted upon the top of the standard and revolve upon it, whichever may be preferred. By pulling down upon this 1ever the turn-table will be turned around so as to stand at right angles to the casting, and as soon as the lever is released the roller will run down the incline, and thus swing the wheel into position again by its own weight.

Instead of having the wheel attached directly to the lower part of the turn-table, and having the inclined plane secured to the cast ing upon which the vane is pivoted, theinclined plane may be secured directly to the turn-table and the wheel to the casting. In this case the inclined plane will bear upon the top of the wheel instead of the wheel bearing upon the top of the inclined plane; but the action in both cases will be exactly the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a windmill, the combination of the standard A, a ertically-moving turn-table, a friction-roller, a casting for the vane, an inclined plane that is vertically adjustable at one of its ends, and a means for raising orlowering the end, substantially as specified.

2. In a windmill, the combination of the standard A, a vertically-movable turn-table, the casting D for the vane, an inclined plane, I, a friction-roller, R, screw-rod L, and adjustin g-nuts, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. BEARD.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. VALLER, LEVI MATHEW. 

